Life Cycle Assessments of ethanol production via gas fermentation: anticipated greenhouse gas emissions for cellulosic and waste gas feedstocks
Abstract
LanzaTech has developed novel microbial bioreactor systems capable of direct gas fermentation to produce ethanol from carbon-containing gases. In this study, a life-cycle assessment method is used to quantify the global warming potential of several scenarios for producing renewable ethanol with the LanzaTech process. Scenarios considering ethanol produced from steel mill waste gases or biomass (corn stover, forest residue, or switchgrass, via gasification) have been considered, using input data from peer-reviewed literature, government reports, life cycle inventory databases, and LanzaTech process engineering estimates. Using standardized life-cycle assessment methods, ethanol produced via LanzaTech fermentation appears to result in greenhouse gas emissions that are at least 60% lower than that of conventional fossil gasoline, with biomass-based ethanol achieving close to 90% emission reductions. Results indicate that the LanzaTech gas fermentation technology can be a viable alternative for producing next-generation biofuels that satisfy United States Renewable Fuels Standard policies concerning fuels with a reduced greenhouse gas emissions footprint.
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In both feedstock scenarios of the Handler et al. LCA, 20-40% of the carbon in feed-gas is converted into ethanol.
“In both feedstock scenarios, 20–40% of the carbon in feed-gas is converted into ethanol.”
From Gas Fermentation—A Flexible Platform for Commercial Scale Production of Low-Carbon-Fuels and Chemicals from Waste and Renewable Feedstocks (2016) · cites this paper as Handler et al., 2016
In a cradle-to-grave LCA by Handler et al. (2016), ethanol from gas fermentation in the USA is estimated to result in 67% GHG reduction using blast oxygen furnace off-gas from steel manufacturing and 88-98% GHG reduction utilizing gasified biomass, compared to conventional fossil gasoline.
“In a recently published cradle-to-grave LCA by Handler et al. (2016), the production of ethanol from gas fermentation in the USA is estimated to result in 67% Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction (using blast oxygen furnace off-gas from steel manufacturing) and 88–98% GHG reduction (utilizing gasified biomass), when compared to conventional fossil gasoline.”
From Gas Fermentation—A Flexible Platform for Commercial Scale Production of Low-Carbon-Fuels and Chemicals from Waste and Renewable Feedstocks (2016) · cites this paper as Handler et al., 2016
At steady-state, the gasification process is self-sustaining, although a small amount of energy input is required to heat the incoming feedstock at the beginning.
“Although a small amount of energy input is required to heat the incoming feedstock to gasification temperature at the beginning of the process, at steady-state the process is self-sustaining (Handler et al., 2016).”
From Gas Fermentation—A Flexible Platform for Commercial Scale Production of Low-Carbon-Fuels and Chemicals from Waste and Renewable Feedstocks (2016) · cites this paper as Handler et al., 2016
Distillation systems are common to separate lower boiling point products such as ethanol and acetone, but this is considered energy-intensive and therefore potentially expensive, especially for low concentration products and products with high boiling points.
“Distillation systems are common to separate lower boiling point products such as ethanol (Handler et al., 2016) and acetone, but this is considered energy-intensive (and therefore potentially expensive), especially for low concentration products and products with high boiling points (e.g., butanediol).”
From Gas Fermentation—A Flexible Platform for Commercial Scale Production of Low-Carbon-Fuels and Chemicals from Waste and Renewable Feedstocks (2016) · cites this paper as Handler et al., 2016
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- Authors
- Handler, R. M., Shonnard, D. R., Griffing, E. M., Lai, A., & Palou-Rivera, I.
- Affiliations
- Michigan Technological University (US)
- Environmental Clarity, 2505 Fauquier Lane, Reston, Virginia 20191, United States
- LanzaTech, 8045 Lamon Avenue Suite 400, Skokie, Illinois 60077, United States
- Corresponding author
- Handler, Robert M.
- Venue
- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Published
- 2015-12-21
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 3253-3261
- ISSN
- 0888-5885 (ISSN-L)
- 1520-5045
- OpenAlex
- W2323174543
- Cited by
- 142
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8
- FWCI
- 3.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - Michigan Tech (Michigan Technological University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy (DE-EE0005-356)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Keywords
- ethanol production, gas fermentation, greenhouse gas emissions, global warming potential, biomass gasification, corn stover, forest residues, switchgrass, cellulosic ethanol, renewable fuels, Renewable Fuel Standard, biofuels
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